Fête de la Musique (June 21)

By David Dadoun | Published: June 9, 2013

FETE_MUSIQUE_2013 For one night only, Paris is a true party town late until the morning with Fête de la Musique, which is a singular free music festival celebrating the beginning of summer.  As a glitter of light from late dusk remains until nearly 11:00 p.m., this event, in which normally restrained Parisians party loudly until the early morning, is a great way to experience different musicians in a variety of venues throughout the city.  Celebrating its 32d year, all events are free, and it is not unusual to see musicians just set up and play in a plaza, park or even in an apartment building, playing throughout the night.  Jazz, rock, contemporary, traditional French music — all genres are fair game for this extraordinary night.  Expect to find musicians throughout all of the arrondissements of the city, but if you are searching for specific spots, go to Champs de Mars, Les Invalides, Avenue Champs Elysees, Chatelet, Bastille, Parc Monceau, Le Parc des Buttes-Chaumont and Sacré Coeur.

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Roland Garros 2013 — Top Places to Visit

By David Dadoun | Published: May 18, 2013

Roland Garros.jpegThe French Open begins its 122d year at Roland Garros in Paris on Sunday, May 26, with the Men’s Championship Match held on June 9.  What is not so well known is that nearby is the haute Village d’Auteuil, in the 16th arrondissement, which offers an array of great restaurants, bistros, brasseries and fashion shops for those in need of new clothes or shoes. Read More »

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Le Temps Au Temps

By David Dadoun | Published: May 1, 2013

Every try and ask that someone special for a date, only to be turned down again and again, with the usual excuse that they are already ‘’busy ?’’   So it was for Le Temps Au Temps, as every time I called – usually only a day or two in advance – to be told by politely ‘’desolé, nous sommes complet’’  (sorry, we are full).    So this time when I called for a date, again, just one day in advance, I expected the usual turn-down only to be told I could get a table for two at 8 :30 (but not 9 :00, as I originally requested).

Le Temps Au Temps comes from the French saying ‘’Il faut laisser du temps au temps’’, which loosely translates to the English phrase we all know, but with the usual French elegance :  ‘’Time will make things right if you just let it.’’  So it was through time (and perserverance) that things would be right and we would have the opportunity to enjoy probably the best fixed price menu in Paris for under 30 Euros – a fabulous bargain for an entrée, plat and dessert. Read More »

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Paris Taxi Drivers

By David Dadoun | Published: May 1, 2013

Paris taxi drivers are sufficiently notorious that they have been featured in films such as “2 Days in Paris”, where the driver hits on a French woman while her American boyfriend is oblivious to his French pick-up lines.  So it is no surprise that when we took a taxi for a drive to Brasserie Lipp (about 2 miles away from our home), the driver went bananas, saying “c’est encroyable” (it’s incredible!), creating a lot of confusion on our part, until he explained it was the tenth time he had been at this taxi stand and the tenth time in a row his patrons asked him to go to Brasserie Lipp (incredible indeed!).  Read More »

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L’Ecailler Du Bistrot (11eme)

By David Dadoun | Published: April 20, 2013

IMGP3054.JPGWhen I first came to Paris, I mistakenly thought that the seafood in Paris could not match the freshness or quality of the what was available in Seattle, my hometown.  I was wrong.

The Parisians take seafood seriously and the chefs bring it to an entirely different level. Oysters (huîtres), prawns (gambas), shrimp (crevette), lobster (homard), and all types of fish, but especially sole (sole), cod (cabillaud), and monkfish (lotte) arrive fresh from Normandy or the south in real-time,  as quickly as any of the fish caught wild from the waters of Puget Sound or Alaska. Read More »

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Printemps à Paris (Spring in Paris)

By David Dadoun | Published: April 14, 2013

Trees are sprouting leaves, flowers are in bloom, sparrows sing wake-up melodies at dawn, and morning rain cleans the narrow cobble stone streets. It is spring in Paris. With spring sun giving a shimmer of warmth and sunlight from the dull, grey days of winter, people are donning sunglasses, hitting the cafés, and sitting outside on the terraces to take it all in. Children (and adults) tend to skip, not walk, and smile a little more as the sun now pierces through the clouds beating down on them. The jardins are now a venue for a pique-nique lunch, or afternoon snack. Read More »

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